U.S. patent application number 16/020821 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-04 for electronic edge computing device.
The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Client Solutions CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Masanori Nakano, Sy Pan, Julia Tsai.
Application Number | 20190206199 16/020821 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67058931 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-04 |
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20190206199/US20190206199A1-20190704-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190206199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakano; Masanori ; et
al. |
July 4, 2019 |
ELECTRONIC EDGE COMPUTING DEVICE
Abstract
According to one embodiment, an electronic edge computing device
is without a display and without a hardware input keyboard. The
electronic edge computing device includes a light source and a
controller. The light source emits light of at least two colors. A
light emission mode of the light source comprises an on mode, a
blink mode, and an off mode. The controller controls a color of the
light emitted from the light source and the light emission mode of
the light source based at least in part on a state of the
electronic edge computing device.
Inventors: |
Nakano; Masanori; (Koganei
Tokyo, JP) ; Pan; Sy; (Taipei, TW) ; Tsai;
Julia; (Taipei, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Toshiba Client Solutions CO., LTD |
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
67058931 |
Appl. No.: |
16/020821 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0485 20130101;
G06F 1/1662 20130101; G06F 1/163 20130101; G06F 1/169 20130101;
G06F 3/04883 20130101; G08B 5/38 20130101; G06F 3/011 20130101;
H05B 45/20 20200101 |
International
Class: |
G08B 5/38 20060101
G08B005/38; H05B 33/08 20060101 H05B033/08; G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2017 |
JP |
2017-253081 |
Claims
1. An electronic edge computing device without a display and
without a hardware input keyboard, the electronic edge computing
device comprising: a light source that emits light of at least two
colors, wherein a light emission mode of the light source comprises
an on mode, a blink mode, and an off mode; and a controller that
controls a color of the light emitted from the light source and the
light emission mode of the light source based at least in part on a
state of the electronic edge computing device.
2. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode that
emits light of at least two colors.
3. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
wherein the electronic edge computing device includes a
battery-powered device, the light source comprises a first light
emitting diode that emits light of at least two colors and a second
light emitting diode that emits light of at least two colors, and
the controller controls the color of the light emitted from the
second light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the
first light emitting diode based at least in part on a charging
state of the battery.
4. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
further includes an embedded controller with a firmware, and
wherein: the controller controls the color of the light emitted
from the light source and the light emission mode of the light
source based at least in part on a state of the firmware of the
embedded controller.
5. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
wherein the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light source and the light emission mode of the light source
based at least in part on a state of a basic input/output system of
the electronic edge computing device.
6. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
wherein: the controller controls the color of the light emitted
from the light source and the light emission mode of the light
source based at least in part on a state of an operating system of
the electronic edge computing device.
7. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
wherein: the controller controls the color of the light emitted
from the light source and the light emission mode of the light
source based at least in part on a state of sign-in of the
electronic edge computing device.
8. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 1,
wherein: the electronic edge computing device further comprises
operation buttons; and when at least one of the operation buttons
is operated, the controller controls the color of the light emitted
from the light source and the light emission mode of the light
source based at least in part on an operation of the at least one
of the operation buttons and a manner of the operation of the at
least one of the operation buttons.
9. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: the operation buttons are locked when a first operation
button of the operation buttons is operated; the operation buttons
are unlocked when a second operation button of the operation
buttons is operated; and the controller controls a number of blinks
of the light source in the blink mode when the operation buttons
are locked or when the operation buttons are unlocked.
10. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 9,
wherein: when the at least one of the operation buttons is
operated, the controller controls the number of blinks of the light
source in the blink mode based at least in part on a locked state
or an unlocked state of the operation buttons.
11. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: when the at least one of the operation buttons is
operated, the controller controls a blink rate of the light source
in the blink mode based at least in part on an update state of a
basic input/output system or an operating system of the electronic
edge computing device.
12. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: the electronic edge computing device connects to an
internet connection; and when the at least one of the operation
buttons is operated, the controller controls the color of the light
emitted from the light source and the light emission mode of the
light source based at least in part on a connection state of the
electronic edge computing device with the internet connection.
13. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: when the at least one of the operation buttons is
operated, a power state of the electronic edge computing device is
set to a power off state, a sleep state, a hibernation state, or a
power on state; and the controller controls the color of the light
emitted from the light source and the light emission mode of the
light source based at least in part on the power state of the
electronic edge computing device.
14. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: the electronic edge computing device comprises a
battery-powered device; and when the at least one of the operation
buttons is operated, the controller controls the color of the light
emitted from the light source and the light emission mode of the
light emitting diode based at least in part on a remaining power of
the battery.
15. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 14,
wherein when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
the controller controls a number of blinks of the light emitting
diode in the blink mode based at least in part on the remaining
power of the battery and a connection state of the battery to the
electronic edge computing device.
16. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: the electronic edge computing device comprises a casing
comprising a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape; the operation
buttons are provided at a front surface of the casing; and the
light emitting diode is provided at a side surface of the casing,
the light source protruding from the side surface of the
casing.
17. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 8,
wherein: the electronic edge computing device comprises a casing
comprising a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape; the operation
buttons are provided at a front surface of the casing; and the
light source is provided in a side surface of the casing and the
front surface of the casing, a part of the light source exposed in
the front surface.
18. The electronic edge computing device according to claim 17,
wherein a diameter of the light source is equal to or greater than
a half of a thickness measured from a top surface to a bottom
surface of the casing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-253081, filed
Dec. 28, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to an
electronic edge computing device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Recently, an IoT (Internet of Things) of which many things
of electronic products are connected through the Internet has been
introduced in many scenes. A technique called "edge computing"
which is relating to the IoT is required as a tool for network
communication and information sharing in offices, factories, and in
other various situations. In order to realize the edge computing,
development of a practical mobile edge computing device having high
degrees of versatility and high processing capacity, and able to be
used by a user (or worker) on site, is needed separately from a
data center (or cloud). Thereby, it is expected that promotion of
the operational efficiency and productivity improvement at a
workplace and the like, or load dispersion of data and improvement
of a network environment will be achieved.
[0004] When the mobile edge computing device is provided with a
display or a hardware input keyboard for inputting characters or
numerals, the worker has difficulty being dedicated to work.
Therefore, there is proposed a mobile edge computing device which
is provided with no display device or hardware input keyboard. If
eyeglass-type wearable device is connected to such a mobile edge
computing device, a display unit of the eyeglass-type wearable
device may be used as a display device of the mobile edge computing
device, and the user may check the display while performing the
work.
[0005] Since such an electronic edge computing device provided no
display device, it is difficult for a user of the electronic edge
computing device to determine whether the electronic edge computing
device operates normally or is malfunctioning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A general architecture that implements the various features
of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the
drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided
to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the
invention.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a remote
support system including an electronic edge computing device
according to an embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of
an operator terminal 12 in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of an external
appearance of a wearable device 23 to be connected to a mobile PC
16 in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of an external
appearance of a wearable device main body 24.
[0011] FIG. 5A is a view showing an example of connection between
the mobile PC 16 and the wearable device main body 24.
[0012] FIG. 5B is a view showing an example of connection between a
plug 146A of a USB type-C cable 146 and a receptacle 132A in the
wearable device main body 24.
[0013] FIG. 5C is a view showing another example of connection
between the plug 146A of the USB type-C cable 146 and a receptacle
132A in the wearable device main body 24.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of
the wearable device main body 24.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of an external
appearance of the mobile PC 16.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of
the mobile PC 16.
[0017] FIG. 9A shows an example of a normal mode of five buttons
202.
[0018] FIG. 9B shows an example of a numeric key mode of the five
buttons 202.
[0019] FIG. 10 shows an example of switching between the normal
mode and the numeric key mode.
[0020] FIG. 11 shows an example of a lighting state of a power LED
213 and a DC IN/battery LED 214 of the mobile PC 15.
[0021] FIG. 12 shows an example of functions executed when the five
buttons of the mobile PC 16 are operated and an example of a
lighting state of the power LED 213.
[0022] FIG. 13 shows an example of a lighting state of the DC
IN/battery LED 214 in a battery check time of the mobile PC 16.
[0023] FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C show modified examples of the
arrangement of the power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery 214 in the
mobile PC 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] The disclosure is merely an example and is not limited by
contents described in the embodiments described below. Modification
which is easily conceivable by a person of ordinary skill in the
art comes within the scope of the disclosure as a matter of course.
In order to make the description clearer, the sizes, shapes and the
like of the respective parts may be changed and illustrated
schematically in the drawings as compared with those in an accurate
representation. Constituent elements corresponding to each other in
a plurality of drawings are denoted by like reference numerals and
their detailed descriptions may be omitted unless necessary.
[0026] A remote support system is described as an embodiment of an
electronic edge computing device. However, an electronic edge
computing device according to an embodiment can be applied to other
systems.
[0027] In general, according to one embodiment, an electronic edge
computing device is without a display and without a hardware input
keyboard. The electronic edge computing device includes a light
source and a controller. The light source emits light of at least
two colors. A light emission mode of the light source comprises an
on mode, a blink mode, and an off mode. The controller controls a
color of the light emitted from the light source and the light
emission mode of the light source based at least in part on a state
of the electronic edge computing device.
[0028] [Remote Support System]
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a remote
support system that realizes edge computing. The remote support
system is used by an operator at a remote site to support a user,
for example, a user at a workplace. Examples of work at the
workplace include a complicated maintenance service, picking
operation in a distribution warehouse, monitoring of a workplace,
disaster relief/medical support, and the like. The user side of the
workplace is also called a front end, and the operator side at the
remote site is also called a back end or a rear end. In the remote
support system, a mobile personal computer (PC) (also called a
mobile edge computing device in some cases) 16 carried by the user
and remote support center (data center) 18 located at a position
distant from the user are connected to each other through a network
22, such as the Internet, so that communication can be carried out
between them. The mobile PC 16 and the remote support center 18 may
be connected to the network 22 through wired LAN cables or may be
connected to the network 22 through a wireless LAN, Bluetooth
(registered trade mark), and the like.
[0030] A wearable device 23 is connected to the mobile PC 16.
Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the wearable device 23 is
connected to the mobile PC through a cable, the wearable device 23
may also be connected to the mobile PC 16 through a wireless LAN,
Bluetooth or the like. The wearable device 23 is provided with a
camera and a display device. An image shot by the camera may be
transmitted to the mobile PC 16, and the image transmitted from the
mobile PC 16 may be displayed on the display device.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible for a plurality of
users to communicate with each other through the network 22. In
this case, communication may also be carried out through the remote
support center 18, and communication may also be carried out only
between the users without being carried out through the operator of
the remote support center 18.
[0032] The remote support center 18 is provided with an operator
terminal 12 and a server 14. The remote support center 18 makes a
voice call or information exchange between the mobile PC 16
(wearable device 23) and the operator terminal 12. It is possible
to carry out video distribution of a real-time image shot by the
wearable device 23 (connected to the mobile PC 16) to the operator
terminal 12, and it is also possible to carry out mutual
transmission/reception of an image between the mobile PC 16 and the
operator terminal 12. Further, it is also possible to transmit a
text message from the operator terminal 12 to the mobile PC 16. For
example, in the picking operation at the distribution warehouse, a
place of a picking item is displayed on the wearable device 23,
whereby hands-free picking can be realized.
[0033] The remote support typically includes, for example, the
following functions:
[0034] (1) A voice call function of carrying out an interactive
voice call between the mobile PC 16 and the operator terminal
12.
[0035] (2) A live image distribution function of carrying out video
distribution of a real-time image shot by the wearable device 23 to
the operator terminal 12 during a voice call.
[0036] (3) A function of carrying out transmission/reception of a
still image between the mobile PC 16 and the operator terminal 12
during a voice call (The mobile PC 16 transmits a shot still image
or a captured image being video-distributed to the operator
terminal 12. The operator terminal 12 edits the received image by
writing characters or pictures, and transmits the edited image to
the mobile PC 16. The still image received by the mobile PC 16 is
stored in a folder in the mobile PC 16, and can be browsed.).
[0037] (4) A screen sharing function of displaying the entire
desk-top screen of the operator terminal 12 or a window of an
arbitrary application program on the wearable device 23 during a
voice call.
[0038] (5) A text message transmitting function of transmitting a
text message from the operator terminal 12 to the mobile PC 16.
[0039] The server 14 carries out processing for remote support in
place of or in cooperation with the operator terminal 12, and is
provided with a processor (CPU) 28, ROM 30, RAM 32, and a storage
device 34 such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive
(SSD), and interface 36. The operator terminal 12 may be made to
have all the functions of the server 14, and the server 14 may be
omitted.
[0040] [Operator Terminal 12]
[0041] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of
the operator terminal 12. The operator terminal 12 is constituted
of a desktop PC, notebook PC or the like.
[0042] The operator issues an instruction to the user having the
mobile PC 16 with a conversation or an image while confirming the
situation of the workplace on the basis of a real-time image by
using the operator terminal 12. The operator can write pictures or
characters to the image file received from the mobile PC 16 by
using the operator terminal 12 to edit the image file, transmit the
edited image file to the mobile PC 16, and store the edited image
file into the operator terminal 12.
[0043] The operator terminal 12 is provided with a system
controller 42 including a processor. A main memory 44, a BIOS-ROM
50, a storage device 52 such as an HDD or an SSD, an audio codec
54, a graphics controller 62, a touch panel 70, a USB (registered
trade mark) connector 72, a wireless LAN device 74, a Bluetooth
device 76, a wired LAN device 78, a PCI Express (registered trade
mark) card controller 80, a memory card controller 82, an embedded
controller/keyboard controller (EC/KBC) 84, and the like are
connected to the system controller 42.
[0044] The system controller 42 executes various programs to be
loaded from the storage device 52 into the main memory 44. These
programs include an operating system (OS) 46, and back-end
application program 48 for remote support. The system controller 42
also executes the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) stored in the
BIOS-ROM 50 which is a nonvolatile memory. The BIOS is a system
program for hardware control.
[0045] The audio codec 54 converts a digital audio signal which is
an object (to be reproduced) into an analog audio signal, and
supplies the converted analog audio signal to headphones 58 or a
speaker 60. Further, the audio codec 54 converts an analog audio
signal input thereto from a microphone 56 into a digital signal.
The microphone 56 and headphones 58 may be provided singly, and may
also be provided in an integrated manner as an intercom.
[0046] The graphics controller 62 controls a liquid crystal display
(LCD) 64 to be used as a display monitor of the operator terminal
12. The touch panel 70 is overlaid on the screen of the LCD 64, and
allows a handwriting input operation to be carried out on the
screen of the LCD 64 by means of a touch-pen or the like. An HDMI
(registered trade mark) controller 66 is also connected to the
graphics controller 62. The HDMI controller 66 is connected to an
HDMI connector 68 for connection to an external display device (not
shown).
[0047] The wireless LAN device 74 executes wireless LAN
communication of the IEEE802.11 standard for the purpose of
connection to the network 22. The Bluetooth device 76 executes
wireless communication of the Bluetooth standard for the purpose of
connection to an external device (not shown). The wired-LAN device
78 executes wired LAN communication of the IEEE802.3 standard for
the purpose of connection to the network 22. As described above,
the connection between the operator terminal 12 and the network 22
may be made by wireless communication or may be made by wired
communication.
[0048] The PCI Express card controller 80 carries out communication
of the PCI Express standard between the operator terminal 12 and an
external device (not shown). The memory card controller 82 writes
data into a storage medium (not shown), for example, a memory card
such as an SD (Secure Digital) card (registered trade mark), and
reads data from the memory card.
[0049] The EC/KBC 84 is a power management controller, and is
realized as a one-chip microcomputer incorporating therein also a
keyboard controller that controls a hardware input keyboard 88. The
EC/KBC 84 has a function of powering on or powering off the
operator terminal 12 according to an operation of a power switch
86. Control of the power-on and power-off is executed by
cooperation between the EC/KBC 84 and a power circuit 90. Even
while the operator terminal 12 is in the power-off state, the
EC/KBC 84 operates by power from a battery 92 or an AC adaptor 94
(to be connected as an external electric power supply). The power
circuit 90 uses the power from the battery 92 or from the AC
adaptor 94 to generate the power to be supplied to each
component.
[0050] [Wearable Device 23]
[0051] FIG. 3 shows an example of an external appearance of the
wearable device 23 to be connected to the mobile PC 16. The
wearable device 23 is provided with an eyeglass frame 142 and a
wearable device main body 24. The eyeglass frame 142 may have a
shape obtained by removing lenses from general eyeglasses and is
worn on the face of the user. The eyeglass frame 142 may have a
structure to which eyeglasses can be attached. When the user
habitually uses eyeglasses at all times, lenses of degrees
identical to the habitually used eyeglasses may be attached to the
eyeglass frame 142.
[0052] The eyeglass frame 142 is provided with mounting brackets
144 on both the right and left temples thereof. The wearable device
main body 24 is attached to and detached from one of the mounting
brackets 144 on the right temple or the left temple. In FIG. 3, the
mounting bracket 144 on the temple at the right side of the user is
hidden behind the wearable device main body 24, and hence is not
shown. As described above, the wearable device main body 24 is
provided with a display device 124 (shown in FIG. 4). The display
device 124 is viewed by one eye. Therefore, the mounting brackets
144 are provided on both the right temple and the left temple so
that the wearable device main body 24 can be attached to the
mounting bracket on the dominant eye side. The wearable device main
body 24 need not be detachably attached to the eyeglass frame 142
by means of the mounting bracket 144. The wearable device for the
right eye only may be prepared in which the wearable device main
body 24 is fixed to the eyeglass frame 142 on the right frame. The
wearable device for the left eye only may be prepared in which the
wearable device main body 24 is fixed to the eyeglass frame 142 on
the left frame. Furthermore, the wearable device main body 24 may
not be attached to the eyeglass frame 142, but may be attached to
the head of the user by using a helmet or a goggle.
[0053] An engaging piece 128 (shown in FIG. 4) of the wearable
device main body 24 is forced between upper and lower frames of the
mounting bracket 144, whereby the wearable device main body 24 is
attached to the eyeglass frame 142. When the wearable device main
body 24 is to be detached from the eyeglass frame 142, the wearable
device main body 24 is plucked out of the mounting bracket 144.
[0054] In a state where the wearable device main body 24 is
attached to the mounting bracket 144, the engaging piece 128 is
somewhat movable backward and forward in the mounting bracket 144.
Accordingly, the wearable device main body 24 is adjustable in the
front-back direction so that the user's eye can be brought to a
focus on the display device 124. Furthermore, the mounting bracket
144 is rotatable around an axis 144A perpendicular to the temple.
After the wearable device main body 24 is attached to the eyeglass
frame 142, the wearable device main body 24 is adjustable in the
upward or the downward direction so that the display device 124 can
be positioned on the user's line of sight. Moreover, the rotational
angle of the mounting bracket 144 is about 90 degrees and, by
largely rotating the mounting bracket 144 in the upward direction,
the wearable device main body 24 can be flipped up from the
eyeglass frame 142. Thereby, even when it is difficult to watch the
real thing because the field of view is obstructed by the wearable
device main body 24 or even when the wearable device main body 24
interferes with surrounding objects in a small space, it is
possible to temporarily divert/restore the wearable device main
body 24 from/to the field of view of the user without
detaching/reattaching the entire wearable device 23 from/to the
face of the user.
[0055] [Wearable Device Main Body 24]
[0056] The wearable device main body 24 is constituted of a side
part to be along the temple of the eyeglass frame 142, and a front
part to be positioned on the line of sight of one eyeball of the
user. The angle which the front part forms with the side part is
adjustable.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, on the outside surface of the front
part, a camera 116, a light 118, and a camera LED 120 are provided.
The light 118 is an auxiliary lighting fixture emitting light at
the time of shooting a dark object. The camera LED 120 is turned on
at the time of shooting a photograph or a video to thereby cause
the objective person to be photographed to recognize that he or she
is to be photographed.
[0058] On the top surface of the side part of the wearable device
main body 24 attached to the right side temple, first, second, and
third buttons 102, 104, and 106 are provided. When the dominant eye
of the user is the left eye, the wearable device main body 24 is
attached to the left side temple. The top and the bottom of the
wearable device main body 24 are reversed according to whether the
wearable main body 24 is attached to the right side temple or the
left side temple. Therefore, the first, second, and third buttons
102, 104, and 106 may be provided on both the top surface and the
undersurface of the side part.
[0059] On the outside surface of the side part, a touch pad 110, a
fourth button 108, a microphone 112, and an illuminance sensor 114
are provided. The touch pad 110 and the fourth button 108 can be
operated by a forefinger. When the wearable device main body 24 is
attached to the right side temple, the buttons 102, 104, and 106
are arranged such that the buttons 102, 104, and 106 can be
operated by a forefinger, a middle finger, and a third finger,
respectively. The touch pad 110 detects the movement of finger in
up and down directions or back and forth directions on the surface
on the touch pad 110 as indicated by arrows. The movement to be
detected includes flicking of a finger for grazing the surface
quickly in addition to dragging of a finger for moving the finger
with the finger kept in contact with the surface. Upon detection of
up-and-down or back-and-forth movement of the user's finger, the
touch pad 110 inputs a command. In this description, the command
implies an executive instruction to execute specific processing to
be issued to the wearable device main body 24. Operation procedures
for the first to fourth buttons 102, 104, 106, and 108, and the
touch pad 110 are determined in advance by the application
program.
[0060] For example,
[0061] when the third button 106 is pressed once, item
selection/item execution is carried out,
[0062] when the third button 106 is pressed for a long time, a list
of activated application programs is displayed,
[0063] when the second button 104 is pressed once, the screen
returns to the home screen,
[0064] when the second button 104 is pressed for a long time, a
menu of quick settings is displayed, and
[0065] when the first button 102 is pressed once, cancellation
(operation identical to the operation of the Esc key of the
hardware input keyboard) of an operation is executed.
[0066] Regarding the operation of the touch pad 110, for
example,
[0067] when the touch pad 110 is dragged up or down, the cursor is
moved up or down,
[0068] when the touch pad 110 is flicked forward (to the front of
the head), the left icon is selected (continuously scrolled),
[0069] when the touch pad 110 is flicked backward (to the back of
the head), the right icon is selected (continuously scrolled),
[0070] when the touch pad 110 is dragged forward, the left icon is
selected (items are scrolled one by one), and
[0071] when the touch pad 110 is dragged backward, the right icon
is selected (items are scrolled one by one).
[0072] The first button 102 is arranged at such a position as to be
operated by a forefinger, the second button 104 at a position by a
middle finger, the third button 106 at a position by a third
finger, and the fourth button 108 at a position by a little finger.
The reason why the fourth button 108 is provided not on the top
surface of the side part, but on the outside surface of the side
part in FIG. 3 is that there is no space for the fourth button 108
on the top surface. The fourth button 108 may be provided on the
top surface of the side part in the same manner as the first to
third buttons 102, 104, and 106 if the top surface has an enough
space. The illuminance sensor 114 detects the illuminance of the
surrounding area in order to automatically adjust the brightness of
the display device 124.
[0073] FIG. 4 shows an example of an external appearance of the
back side of the wearable device main body 24. On the inner side of
the front part, the display device 124 is provided. On the inner
side of the side part, a microphone 126, a speaker 130, and the
engaging piece 128 are provided. The microphone 126 is provided at
a front position of the side part, and the speaker 130 and the
engaging piece 128 are provided at a rear position of the side
part. Headphones may be used in place of the speaker 130. In this
case, the microphone 126 and the headphones may also be provided in
an integrated manner as an intercom in the same manner as the
operator terminal 12.
[0074] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show an example of connection between
the mobile PC 16 and the wearable device main body 24. At a rear
position of the side part, a receptacle 132 into which a plug 146A
at one end of a USB type-C cable 146 conforming to the USB type-C
(registered trade mark) standard is to be inserted is provided. The
receptacle 132 and the plug 146A may be generally called a
connector. A plug 146B at the other end of the USB type-C cable 146
is inserted into a receptacle 207 conforming to the USB type-C
standard provided on an upper end face of the mobile PC 16. The
receptacle 207 and the plug 146B may be generally called a
connector. As described above, the wearable device main body 24 is
connected to the mobile PC 16 through the USB type-C cable 146, and
an image signal and the USB signal are transmitted from/to the
wearable device main body 24 to/from the mobile PC 16 through the
USB type-C cable 146. The wearable device main body 24 may also be
connected to the mobile PC 16 by means of wireless communication
such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and the like.
[0075] In the embodiment, the wearable device main body 24 is not
provided with a battery or a DC terminal serving as a drive power
supply, and the drive power is supplied from the mobile PC 16 to
the wearable device main body 24 through the USB type-C cable 146.
However, the wearable device main body 24 may also be provided with
a drive power supply.
[0076] The rear position of the side part of the wearable device
main body 24 at which the receptacle 132 is formed is a curved
surface. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, a concave portion functioning
as the receptacle 132 is formed in the curved surface. FIG. 5B
shows the receptacle 132 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5C shows
a receptacle 132A according to a comparative example. An intensity
of the receptacle 132A shown in FIG. 5C in a direction
perpendicular to an axis of the plug 146A is weaker than an
intensity of a receptacle if the rear position of the side part of
the wearable device main body 24 is a flat surface as shown in a
broken line. Therefore, if a head of the user moves, the plug 146A
becomes unstable in the receptacle 132A and may be pulled out from
the receptacle 132A. Further, the receptacle 132A may be damaged or
broken due to the unstable receptacle 132A.
[0077] According to the embodiment, the receptacle 132 has a
projection at an edge of the concave portion in the curved surface,
as shown in FIG. 5B. The projection reinforces the edge of the
receptacle 132. Therefore, the probability of pulling out the plug
146A or damaging the receptacle 132A can be lowered.
[0078] When connection of the plug 146A and the receptacle 132 is
too firm, the user may be dangerous if the cable 146 is got caught
on other things. For example, when working at a narrow dangerous
place and a head is pulled by the cable got caught on the other
things, the head may be approached to a dangerous thing. When
connection of the plug 146A and the receptacle 132 is too loose,
the plug 146A may be pulled out from the receptacle 132A even if a
weak force is applied to the plug 146A. Therefore, the strength of
connection of the plug 146A and the receptacle 132 is suitably
adjusted such that the plug 146A can be pulled out from the
receptacle 132A when a moderate force is applied to the plug 146A.
The connection strength can be adjusted by adjusting a stroke
length of the plug 146A and the receptacle 132A, or a force of
spring of the receptacle 132A pressing the plug 146A.
[0079] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of
the wearable device main body 24. The USB type-C connector 132 is
connected to a mixer 166. A display controller 170 and a USB hub
164 are respectively connected to a first terminal and a second
terminal of the mixer 166. The display device 124 is connected to
the display controller 170. A camera controller 168, an audio codec
172, and a sensor controller 162 are connected to the USB hub 164.
The camera 116, the light 118, and the camera LED 120 are connected
to the camera controller 168. Audio signals from the microphones
112 and 126 are input to the audio codec 172, and an audio signal
from the audio codec 172 is input to the speaker 130 through an
amplifier 174.
[0080] A motion sensor (for example, an acceleration sensor, a
geomagnetism sensor, a gravitation sensor, a gyroscopic sensor,
etc.) 176, the illuminance sensor 114, a proximity sensor 178, the
touch pad 110, the first to fourth buttons 102, 104, 106, and 108,
and a GPS sensor 180 are connected to the sensor controller 162.
The sensor controller 162 processes detection signals from the
motion sensor 176, the illuminance sensor 114, the proximity sensor
178, the touch pad 110, the first to fourth buttons 102, 104, 106
and 108, and the GPS sensor 180, and supplies a command to the
mobile PC 16. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the motion sensor 176
and the proximity sensor 178 are arranged inside the wearable
device main body 24. The motion sensor 176 detects a motion, a
direction, a posture and the like of the wearable device main body
24. The proximity sensor 178 detects attachment of the wearable
device 23 on the basis of approach of a face, a finger and the like
of the user thereto.
[0081] [Mobile PC 16]
[0082] FIG. 7 shows an example of an external appearance of the
mobile PC (mobile edge computing device) 16. The mobile PC 16 is a
small-sized PC that can be held by one hand, and has a small size
and light weight, i.e., a width thereof is about 10 cm or less, a
height thereof is about 18 cm or less, a thickness thereof is about
2 cm or less, and a weight thereof is about 300 g or less.
Accordingly, the mobile PC 16 can be held in a pocket of the work
clothing of the user, a holster to be attached to a belt, or a
shoulder case, and is wearable. Although the mobile PC 16
incorporates therein semiconductor chips such as a CPU, a
semiconductor memory and the like, and storage devices such as an
SSD and the like, the mobile PC 16 is not provided with a display
device and a hardware input keyboard for inputting characters or
numerals.
[0083] On the front surface of the mobile PC 16, five buttons 202
constituted of an up button 202a, a right button 202b, a down
button 202c, a left button 202d, and a decision button 202e (also
called a center button or an enter button) are arranged, and a
fingerprint sensor 204 is arranged below the five buttons 202. The
mobile PC 16 is not provided with a hardware input keyboard for
inputting characters or numerals, and a password number (also
called a PIN) cannot be input. Therefore, the fingerprint sensor
204 is used for user authentication at the time of sign-in of the
mobile PC 16. The five buttons 202 can input a command.
[0084] User authentication at the time of sign-in may be carried
out by allocating numeric values to the buttons 202a to 202d of the
five buttons 202, and by inputting a password number using the five
buttons 202. In this case, the fingerprint sensor 204 can be
omitted. Numeric values are allocated to the four buttons 202a to
202d other than the decision button 202e, and the number of the
numeric values is only four. Thus, there is a possibility of
numeric values input in a random manner being coincident with the
password number. However, by making the digit number of the
password large, it is possible to make the probability that the
numeric values input in a random manner will be coincident with the
password number low. Authentication by the five buttons 202 may be
enabled in also the mobile PC 16 provided with the fingerprint
sensor 204. Although one mobile PC 16 may be shared among a
plurality of users, it is not possible to cope with such a case by
only the fingerprint authentication.
[0085] The operations identical to those of the buttons 102, 104,
106, and 108, and the touch pad 110 of the wearable device main
body 24 can also be applied to the five buttons 202. The user
cannot watch the state where the buttons 102, 104, 106, and 108,
and the touch pad 110 of the wearable device main body 24 are being
operated. Therefore, it may be necessary for a user to become
accustomed to carrying out an intended operation depending on the
user. Further, the buttons 102, 104, 106, and 108 and the touch pad
110 are small in size, and thus they may be difficult to operate.
In the embodiment, the five buttons 202 of the mobile PC 16 can
also be operated in the same manner as above, and hence the
above-mentioned fear can be dispelled. The operation procedures of
the five buttons 202 are determined by the application program.
[0086] For example,
[0087] when the decision button 202e is pressed once, item
selection/item execution is carried out (corresponding to pressing
once of the third button 106 in the wearable device main body
24),
[0088] when the decision button 202e is pressed for a long time,
ending or cancellation of an operation is carried out
(corresponding to pressing once of the first button 102 in the
wearable device main body 24),
[0089] when the up button 202a is pressed once, the cursor is moved
upward (corresponding to upward drag on the touch pad 110 in the
wearable device main body 24),
[0090] when the up button 202a is pressed for a long time, a list
of activated application programs is displayed (corresponding to
pressing the third button 106 for a long time in the wearable
device main body 24),
[0091] when the down button 202c is pressed once, the cursor is
moved downward (corresponding to downward drag on the touch pad 110
in the wearable device main body 24),
[0092] when the down button 202c is pressed for a long time, a menu
of quick settings is displayed (corresponding to pressing of the
second button 104 for a long time in the wearable device main body
24),
[0093] when the left button 202d is pressed once, the right icon is
selected (corresponding to backward drag/flick on the touch pad 110
in the wearable device main body 24), and
[0094] when the right button 202b is pressed once, the left icon is
selected (corresponding to forward drag/flick on the touch pad 110
in the wearable device main body 24).
[0095] On the upper side face of the mobile PC 16, a USB 3.0
connector 206, a USB type-C connector 207, and an audio jack 208
are provided.
[0096] On one side face (side face on the left side when viewed
from the front) of the mobile PC 16, a memory card slot 218 for a
memory card is provided. The memory card includes, for example, an
SD card (registered trade mark), a micro SD card (registered trade
mark), and the like.
[0097] On the other side face (side face on the right side when
viewed from the front) of the mobile PC 16, a slot 210 for
Kensington Lock (registered trade mark), a power switch 212, a
power LED 213, a DC IN/battery LED 214, a DC terminal 216, and
ventilation holes 222 for cooling are provided. The power LED 213
is arranged around the power switch 212, and turned on during the
period of power-on. The DC IN/battery LED 214 indicates the state
of the mobile PC 16 such as whether or not a battery is being
charged, and the remaining battery level. Although the mobile PC 16
can be driven by the battery, the mobile PC 16 can also be driven
in the state where the AC adaptor (not shown) is connected to the
DC terminal 216. Although not shown, the back side of the mobile PC
16 is configured such that the battery can be replaced with a new
one by a one-touch operation.
[0098] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of
the mobile PC 16. The mobile PC 16 can carry out video distribution
of an image shot by the wearable device main body 24 to the
operator terminal 12, and enables browse of the image received from
the operator terminal 12. For this reason, the mobile PC 16 is
provided with a camera function and a viewer function. The camera
function is a function of shooting a photograph or a video by means
of the camera 116 of the wearable device main body 24. The shot
photograph and video are stored in a camera folder (not shown) in
the mobile PC 16, and can be browsed by the viewer function. The
viewer function is a function of enabling browse of a file stored
in the camera folder. The types of the files include still images,
moving images, PDF files, photographs and videos shot by the camera
function, images received from the operator terminal 12, images
transmitted to the operator terminal 12, and files stored in a user
folder (not shown) in the mobile PC 16.
[0099] The mobile PC 16 is provided with a system controller 302.
The system controller 302 is constituted of a processor (CPU) and a
controller/hub (not shown in FIG. 8). A main memory 308, a BIOS-ROM
310, the power LED 213, the DC IN/battery LED 214, and a USB
controller 322 are connected to the processor of the system
controller 302. A flash memory 326, a memory card controller 328, a
storage device 330 such as an HDD or an SSD, a USB switching device
324, an audio codec 334, a 3G/LTE/GPS device 336, the fingerprint
sensor 204, the USB 3.0 connector 206, a Bluetooth/wireless LAN
device 340, and an EC/KBC 344 are connected to the controller/hub
of the system controller 302.
[0100] The system controller 302 executes various programs to be
loaded from the storage device 330 into the main memory 308. These
programs include an OS 316, and a front-end application program 314
for remote support. The front-end application program 314 includes
a screen direction control program. The system controller 302 also
executes the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) stored in the
BIOS-ROM 310 which is a nonvolatile memory. The BIOS is a system
program for hardware control.
[0101] The audio codec 334 converts a digital audio signal which is
an object (to be reproduced) into an analog audio signal, and
supplies the converted analog audio signal to the audio jack 208.
Further, the audio codec 334 converts an analog audio signal (input
from the audio jack 208) into a digital signal.
[0102] The memory card controller 328 accesses to a memory card
such as an SD card to be inserted into the memory card slot 218,
and controls read/write of data from/to the SD card.
[0103] The USB controller 322 carries out control of
transmission/reception of data to/from the USB type-C cable 146
(shown in FIG. 5) connected to the USB type-C connector 207 or the
USB 3.0 cable (not shown) connected to the USB 3.0 connector
206.
[0104] Although not shown, a port extension adaptor including ports
or connectors according to several interfaces can be connected also
to the USB type-C connector 207, and an interface which is not
provided in the mobile PC 16, such as the HDMI or the like, can be
used.
[0105] The Bluetooth/wireless LAN device 340 executes wireless
communication conforming to the Bluetooth/IEEE802.11 standard for
the purpose of connection to the network 22. The connection to the
network 22 may not depend on wireless communication, and may depend
on wired LAN communication conforming to the IEEE802.3
standard.
[0106] The fingerprint sensor 204 is used for fingerprint
authentication at the time of startup of the mobile PC 16.
[0107] A sub-processor 346, the power switch 212, and the five
buttons 202 are connected to the EC/KBC 344. The EC/KBC 344 has a
function of turning on or turning off the power to the mobile PC 16
according to the operation of the power switch 212. The control of
power-on and power-off is executed by cooperative operation of the
EC/KBC 344 and the power circuit 350. Even during a power-off
period of the mobile PC 16, the EC/KBC 344 operates by the power
from a battery 352 or an AC adaptor 358 (connected as an external
power supply). The power circuit 350 uses the power from the
battery 352 or the AC adaptor 358 to thereby generate power to be
supplied to each component. The power circuit 350 includes a
voltage regulator module 356. The voltage regulator module 356 is
connected to the processor in the system controller 302.
[0108] Although the mobile PC 16 is constituted as a body separate
from the wearable device main body 24, the mobile PC 16 may be
incorporated into the wearable device main body 24, and both of
them may also be integrated into one body.
[0109] [Five Buttons Operation Mode]
[0110] As described above, operation modes of the five buttons 202
can be switched in order to perform a user authentication at the
time of sign-in by inputting a password number. The operation modes
include a normal mode in which the five buttons 202 are operated as
buttons for cursor movement (FIG. 9A) and a numeric key mode in
which the five buttons 202 are operated as numeric keys (FIG. 9B).
The modes of the five buttons 202 are switched depending on whether
or not the EC/KBC 344 is set to a special key mode. The EC/KBC 344
can switch the special key mode between on/off states on the basis
of a utility program or a command input by a user.
[0111] If the special key mode is turned off by the EC/KBC 344, the
five buttons 202 are operated in the normal mode. In that case,
when a key signal from the five buttons 202 is input into the
EC/KBC 344, a cursor key code is output from the EC/KBC 344. The
EC/KBC 344 converts signals from the up button 202a, the right
button 202b, the down button 202c, and the left button 202d into
cursor key codes to move the cursor upward, rightward, downward,
and leftward, respectively and supplies the cursor key codes to a
keyboard driver 402. In that case, the keyboard driver 402 supplies
the cursor key codes to an application program 404 as they are.
Thus, in the normal mode, a user can move the cursor in up, down,
right, and left directions by operating the five buttons 202.
[0112] If the special key mode is turned on by the EC/KBC 344, the
five buttons 202 are operated in the numeric key mode. In that
case, when a key signal from the five buttons 202 is input into the
EC/KBC 344, a special key code is output from the EC/KBC 344. The
EC/KBC 344 converts signals from the up button 202a, the right
button 202b, the down button 202c, and the left button 202d into
special key codes indicative of certain numbers, for example, 78,
74, 72, and 55 and supplies the special key codes to the keyboard
driver 402. In that case, the keyboard driver 402 converts the
special key codes into numeric key codes on the basis of a scan
code map stored in a registry 406 and supplies the numeric key
codes to the application program 404.
[0113] A scan code map describes a definition to convert the
special key codes into the numeric key codes. On the basis of the
definition, the keyboard driver 402 converts the special key codes
indicative of 78, 74, 72, and 55 into the numeric key codes
indicative of 2, 4, 6, and 8, for example. The scan code map is set
in the registry 406 by a key assign utility program. The key assign
utility program is installed in the main memory 308 of the mobile
PC 16. Thus, in the numeric key mode, a user can input numeric key
code by operating the five buttons 202.
[0114] FIG. 10 shows switching of the five buttons 202 between the
normal mode and the numeric key mode. When the mobile PC 16 is
turned on, the key assign utility program is activated. In the
activation, the key assign utility program turns off the special
key mode of the EC/KBC 344. Thus, the operation mode of the five
buttons 202 is set to the normal mode. Then, a boot program is
executed, a sign-in authentication process is started for OS
activation, and an authentication standby state is set. In the
authentication standby state, the mobile PC 16 displays a password
(PIN) input screen on the display device 124 of the wearable device
main body 24 for the OS activation. The PIN input screen includes a
message for users such as "Please input PIN of four digits and
press enter". The PIN is preliminarily set by a user and is stored
in the storage device 330 of the mobile PC 16. Note that the PIN is
not limited to four digits and may be a greater number such as ten
digits. In the authentication standby state, the key assign utility
program turns on the special key mode of the EC/KBC 344. Thus, the
operation mode of the five buttons 202 is set to the numeric key
mode. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, the numbers indicative of
PIN are input by the five buttons 202.
[0115] When the PIN authentication succeeds, the key assign utility
program turns off the special key mode of the EC/KBC 344. Thus, the
operation mode of the five buttons 202 is set to the normal mode.
Then, as shown in FIG. 9A, the movement of cursor and the like are
instructed by the five buttons 202.
[0116] When a user selects mode switching or inputs a mode
switching command on a screen (GUI) in the normal mode, the special
key mode of the EC/KBC 344 is turned on. Thus, the operation mode
of the five buttons 202 is switched to the numeric key mode at an
optional time desired by a user. Similarly, in the numeric key
mode, when a user selects mode switching or inputs a mode switching
command on the screen (GUI), the special key mode of the EC/KBC 344
is turned off, and the operation mode of the five buttons 202 is
switched to the normal mode at an optional time desired by a
user.
[0117] [State Display]
[0118] While the mobile PC 16 without a display is connected to the
wearable device main body 24, messages indicative of various states
of the system are displayed on the display device 124 of the
wearable device main body 24. A user can recognize a state of the
system such as an error from the messages. However, if the wearable
device main body 24 is not connected to the mobile PC 16, the user
cannot recognize states of the system. States of the system
include, for example, state of power/OS, battery charge state,
internet connection state, and lock/unlock state of five buttons.
According to the embodiment, the mobile PC 16 includes the power
LED 213 and the DC IN/battery LED 214 on a side surface of the
casing such that various states of the system can be notified to a
user by changing a color and a behavior of the LEDs.
[0119] FIG. 11 shows an example of the color and the behavior of
the power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery LED 214 of the mobile PC
16.
[0120] The LED color and the LED behavior of the power LED 213 is
changed depending on the power state or the state of the OS.
[0121] When the power state of the system is an on state, the power
LED 213 is lit in orange.
[0122] When the firmware of the EC/KBC 344 is updated, the power
LED 213 blinks in white.
[0123] When the BIOS is updated, the power LED 213 blinks in white.
The blink rate during the update of the BIOS is slower than the
blink rate during the update of firmware of the EC/KBC 344.
[0124] When the power state of the system is a sleep state (S3
state), the power LED 213 blinks in white and is gradually lit
(breath).
[0125] In the boot of the BIOS, the power LED 213 is lit in
orange.
[0126] In the boot of the OS, the power LED 213 is lit in
orange.
[0127] In a screen is locked, the power LED 213 blinks in orange
and is gradually lit (breath).
[0128] In a waiting period for sign-in, the power LED 213 blinks in
orange and is gradually lit (breath).
[0129] When the OS is on or the sign-in succeeds, the power LED 213
is lit in white.
[0130] When the sign-in fails, the power LED 213 blinks in orange
and white at intervals of 0.5 s. The sign-in is performed through
fingerprint authentication, and the sign-in fails if the
fingerprint authentication fails for predetermined times. The
predetermined times can be changed by setting and the default value
is three, for example.
[0131] If there is a memory error, the power LED 213 blinks in
orange and white.
[0132] When the power state of the system is in a hibernation state
(S4 state) or the power is off (S5 state), the power LED 213 turns
off.
[0133] Thus, even if the wearable device main body 24 is not
connected to the mobile PC 16, a user can visually recognize states
of the power and the system on the basis of the color and the
lighting behavior of the power LED 213.
[0134] The DC IN/battery LED 214 changes the color and the lighting
behavior thereof depending on a charge state.
[0135] When the AC adapter 358 is connected and the battery 352 is
fully charged, the DC IN/battery LED 214 is lit in white.
[0136] If there is a power error, the DC IN/battery LED 214 blinks
in white.
[0137] When the AC adapter 358 is connected and the battery 352 is
being charged, the DC IN/battery LED 214 is lit in orange.
[0138] When the AC adapter 358 is not connected and the battery 352
is being discharged, the DC IN/battery LED 214 is turned off.
[0139] Thus, even if the wearable device main body 24 is not
connected to the mobile PC 16, a user can visually recognize a
charge state of the battery 352 on the basis of the color and the
lighting behavior of the DC IN/battery LED 214.
[0140] Combinations of the color, the lighting behavior, and the
state of FIG. 11 are merely an example, and combinations can be
arbitrarily changed.
[0141] [Commands by Button Operation]
[0142] Since the mobile PC 16 does not include a hardware input
keyboard for inputting characters or numerals, and thus, commands
cannot be input. According to the embodiment, the mobile PC 16
includes the five buttons 202 and a command can be input by a
combination of the five buttons 202. Furthermore, since the mobile
PC 16 does not include a display, contents of the command and a
state of execution of the command cannot be confirmed. According to
the embodiment, the mobile PC 16 of the embodiment includes the
power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery LED 214 such that the contents
of the command and the state of execution of the command can be
notified to a user by changing the color and the light behavior of
the power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery LED 214.
[0143] FIG. 12 shows an example of functions executed by the
operation of the five buttons 202 and the color and the behavior of
the power LED 213.
[0144] When the up button 202a and the down button 202c are
simultaneously pressed for approximately five seconds, the five
buttons 202 are locked or unlocked.
[0145] When the above operation is performed while the five buttons
202 are unlocked, the five buttons 202 are locked. At that time,
the power LED 213 blinks once in white.
[0146] When the above operation is performed while the five buttons
202 are locked, the five buttons 202 are unlocked. At that time,
the power LED 213 blinks twice in white.
[0147] When the center button 202e is pressed for approximately one
second while simultaneously pressing the up button 202a and the
down button 202c, the lock/unlock state of the five buttons 202 is
checked. If the five buttons 202 are locked, the power LED 213
blinks once in white. If the five buttons 202 are unlocked, the
power LED 213 blinks twice in white. The check of the lock/unlock
state of the five buttons 202 can be performed even if the five
buttons 202 are locked.
[0148] When the left button 202d, the right button 202b, and the
power switch 212 are simultaneously pressed for approximately five
seconds, the BIOS/OS can be updated. During the update of the BIOS,
the power LED 213 blinks in white. During the update of the OS, the
power LED 213 blinks in white. The blink rate during the update of
the OS is faster than the blink rate during the update of the
BIOS.
[0149] When the center button 202e is pressed for approximately one
second while simultaneously pressing the left button 202d and the
right button 202b, the network connection state is checked. If the
mobile PC 16 is connected to the internet, the power LED 213 blinks
once in white. If the mobile PC 16 is not connected to the
internet, the power LED 213 blinks twice in white.
[0150] The mobile PC 16 can be in various power states and the
power states can be changed by operating the power source switch
212 and the five buttons 202. In order to increase a battery drive
time as long as possible, the mobile PC 16 is put in a hibernation
state if there is no operation thereto for a certain period of
time. Furthermore, when the wearable device main body 24 is
detached from the mobile PC 16, the wearable device main body 24 is
put in a sleep state and then, the mobile PC 16 is also put in a
sleep state.
[0151] When the power source switch 202 is pressed for one second,
the power state moves to one according to setting of OS. If the
power state moves to a sleep state, the power LED 213 blinks, and
if the power state moves to a hibernation state or a power off
state, the power LED 213 is turned off.
[0152] When the up button 202a and the power source switch 202 are
simultaneously pressed for one second, the power state moves to a
sleep state. At that time, the power LED 213 blinks.
[0153] When the right button 202b and the power source switch 202
are simultaneously pressed for one second, the power state moves to
a hibernation state. At that time, the power LED 213 is turned
off.
[0154] When the down button 202c and the power source switch 202
are simultaneously pressed for one second, the power state moves to
a shut down state. At that time, the power LED 213 is turned
off.
[0155] Thus, even if the wearable device main body 24 and a
hardware input keyboard for inputting characters or numerals are
not connected to the mobile PC 16, a user can input a command by
operating the five buttons 202 in combination and can visually
recognize the state of execution of the command on the basis of the
color and the lighting behavior of the power LED 213.
[0156] Combinations of the functions, the button operations, the
LED colors, the LED behaviors, and the denotations of FIG. 12 are
merely an example, and combinations can be arbitrarily changed.
[0157] FIG. 13 shows an example of a battery check function of the
mobile PC 16 executed by the operation of the five buttons 202 and
the color and the lighting behavior of the DC IN/battery LED 214.
In the mobile PC 16 according to the embodiment, when the center
button 202e is pressed while simultaneously pressing the left
button 202d and the right button 202b, the battery check is
performed. The battery check can be performed even while the five
buttons 202 are locked.
[0158] When the remaining level of the battery 352 is 100% (fully
charged) while the AC adapter 358 is connected, the DC IN/battery
LED 214 is lit in white. The lighting behavior is not changed by
the button operation.
[0159] When the remaining level of the battery 352 is more than 80%
while the AC adapter 358 is connected, the DC IN/battery LED 214
blinks once in orange (i.e., orange, off, orange). When the
remaining level of the battery 352 is 20 to 80% while the AC
adapter 358 is connected, the DC IN/battery LED 214 blinks twice in
orange (i.e., orange, off, orange, off, orange). When the remaining
level of the battery 352 is less than 20% while the AC adapter 358
is connected, the DC IN/battery LED 214 blinks three times in
orange (i.e., orange, off, orange, off, orange, off, orange). When
the remaining level of the battery 352 is less than 5% while the AC
adapter 358 is connected, the DC IN/battery LED 214 blinks four
times in orange (i.e., orange, off, orange, off, orange, off,
orange, off, orange).
[0160] When the remaining level of the battery 352 is more than 80%
while the AC adapter 358 is not connected, the DC IN/battery LED
214 is lit once in orange (i.e., off, orange, off). When the
remaining level of the battery 352 is 20 to 80% while the AC
adapter 358 is not connected, the DC IN/battery LED 214 is lit
twice in orange (i.e., off, orange, off, orange, off). When the
remaining level of the battery 352 is less than 20% while the AC
adapter 358 is not connected, the DC IN/battery LED 214 is lit
three times in orange (i.e., off, orange, off, orange, off, orange,
off).
[0161] When the remaining level of the battery 352 is less than 5%
while the AC adapter 358 is not connected, the DC IN/battery LED
214 blinks in orange. The blinking state is not changed by the
button operation.
[0162] Thus, even if the wearable device main body 24 and the
hardware input keyboard for inputting characters or numerals are
not connected to the mobile PC 16, a user can instruct a battery
check to the mobile PC 16 by operating a combination of the five
buttons 202 and can visually recognize the remaining level of the
battery on the basis of color and the lighting behavior of the DC
IN/battery LED 214.
[0163] Combinations of the functions, the button operations, the
LED colors, the LED behaviors, and the remaining levels of the
battery of FIG. 13 are merely an example, and combinations can be
arbitrarily changed.
[0164] [Example of Arrangement of the Power LED 213 and the DC
IN/Battery LED 214]
[0165] As shown in FIG. 7, the power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery
LED 214 are provided with the side surface of the mobile PC 16.
When the states of the system are indicated as shown in FIG. 11,
there is no need of operating the five buttons 202, and thus, the
LEDs 213 and 214 provided with the side surface of the mobile PC 16
can notify the state of the system to a user. However, when the
state of command execution is to be checked by operating the five
buttons 202 to input commands as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the
button operation may be made by placing the bottom surface of the
mobile PC 16 on a flat surface such as a desk. In that case, the
user sees the front surface of the mobile PC 16, and thus, the
color and the behavior of the LEDs 213 and 214 provided with the
side surface may be difficult to visually recognize.
[0166] By changing the arrangement of the power LED 213 and the DC
IN/battery LED 214 as shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C, the user
can check the color and the behavior of the LEDs 213 and 214 with
good visibility even if the mobile PC 16 is seen from the
front.
[0167] In a variation of FIG. 14A, the power LED 213 and the DC
IN/battery 214 are formed as protrusions protruding from the side
surface of the mobile PC 16, and the peripheral surface of the
protrusion is formed as a luminous surface.
[0168] In a variation of FIG. 14B, the power LED 213 and the DC
IN/battery LED 214 are provided with the side surface of the mobile
PC 16 and are partly provided with the front surface of the mobile
PC 16. That is, the power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery LED 214 are
provided with both the front surface and the side surface and are
partly exposed in the front surface.
[0169] In a variation of FIG. 14C, the power LED 213 and the DC
IN/battery LED 214 are realized as LEDs of high brightness. To
increase the brightness of an LED, a diameter thereof is increased,
for example. In this example, the diameter of the power LED 213 is
increased, for example. If the power LED 213 has a diameter D which
is equal to or greater than a half the width W of the side surface
of the mobile PC 16, the user can check the color and the behavior
of the LEDs 213 and 214 provided with the side surface of the
mobile PC 16 with good visibility even if the mobile PC 16 is seen
from the front.
[0170] With the above variations, the color and the behavior of the
power LED 213 and the DC IN/battery LED 214 can be recognized even
if the mobile PC 16 is seen from the front.
[0171] Since the processes of the present embodiment can be
realized by computer program, the advantages of the present
embodiment can easily be achieved by installing the computer
program in a computer via a computer-readable storage medium
storing the computer program.
[0172] According to embodiments, following electronic edge
computing devices and systems are provided.
[0173] An electronic edge computing device without a display and
without a hardware input keyboard, the electronic edge computing
device comprising:
[0174] a light source that emits light of at least two colors,
wherein a light emission mode of the light source comprises an on
mode, a blink mode, and an off mode; and
[0175] a controller that controls a color of the light emitted from
the light source and the light emission mode of the light source
based at least in part on a state of the electronic edge computing
device.
[0176] The electronic edge computing device of (1), wherein
[0177] the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits
light of at least two colors, wherein a light emission mode of the
light emitting diode comprises the on mode, the blink mode, and the
off mode; and
[0178] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on the state of the
electronic edge computing device.
[0179] The electronic edge computing device of (1), wherein
[0180] the electronic edge computing device comprises a
battery-powered device;
[0181] the light source comprises a first light emitting diode that
emits light of at least two colors and a second light emitting
diode that emits light of at least two colors, wherein a light
emission mode of the first light emitting diode comprises the on
mode, the blink mode, and the off mode; and
[0182] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the second light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the
first light emitting diode based at least in part on a charging
state of the battery.
[0183] The electronic edge computing device of (1), further
comprising:
[0184] an embedded controller with a firmware,
[0185] wherein
[0186] the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits
light of at least two colors, wherein a light emission mode of the
light emitting diode comprises the on mode, the blink mode, and the
off mode; and
[0187] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on a state of the firmware of
the embedded controller.
[0188] The electronic edge computing device of (1), wherein
[0189] the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits
light of at least two colors, wherein a light emission mode of the
light emitting diode comprises the on mode, the blink mode, and the
off mode; and
[0190] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on a state of a basic
input/output system of the electronic edge computing device.
[0191] The electronic edge computing device of (2), wherein
[0192] the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits
light of at least two colors, wherein a light emission mode of the
light emitting diode comprises the on mode, the blink mode, and the
off mode; and
[0193] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on a state of an operating
system of the electronic edge computing device.
[0194] The electronic edge computing device of (1), wherein
[0195] the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits
light of at least two colors, wherein a light emission mode of the
light emitting diode comprises the on mode, the blink mode, and the
off mode; and
[0196] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on a state of sign-in of the
electronic edge computing device.
[0197] The electronic edge computing device of (1), wherein
[0198] the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits
light of at least two colors, wherein a light emission mode of the
light emitting diode comprises the on mode, the blink mode, and the
off mode;
[0199] the electronic edge computing device further comprises
operation buttons, and
[0200] when at least one of the operation buttons is operated, the
controller controls the color of the light emitted from the light
emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light emitting
diode based at least in part on an operation of the at least one of
the operation buttons and a manner of the operation of the at least
one of the operation buttons.
[0201] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0202] the operation buttons are locked when a first operation
button of the operation buttons is operated;
[0203] the operation buttons are unlocked when a second operation
button of the operation buttons is operated; and
[0204] the controller controls a number of blinks of the light
emitting diode in the blink mode when the operation buttons are
locked or when the operation buttons are unlocked.
[0205] The electronic edge computing device of (9), wherein
[0206] when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
the controller controls the number of blinks of the light emitting
diode in the blink mode based at least in part on a locked state or
an unlocked state of the operation buttons.
[0207] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0208] when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
the controller controls a blink rate of the light emitting diode in
the blink mode based at least in part on an update state of a basic
input/output system or an operating system of the electronic edge
computing device.
[0209] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0210] the electronic edge computing device connects to an internet
connection; and
[0211] when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
the controller controls the color of the light emitted from the
light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on a connection state of the
electronic edge computing device with the internet connection.
[0212] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0213] when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
a power state of the electronic edge computing device is set to a
power off state, a sleep state, a hibernation state, or a power on
state,
[0214] the controller controls the color of the light emitted from
the light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on the power state of the
electronic edge computing device.
[0215] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0216] the electronic edge computing device comprises a
battery-powered device; and
[0217] when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
the controller controls the color of the light emitted from the
light emitting diode and the light emission mode of the light
emitting diode based at least in part on a remaining power of the
battery.
[0218] The electronic edge computing device of (14), wherein
[0219] when the at least one of the operation buttons is operated,
the controller controls a number of blinks of
[0220] the light emitting diode in the blink mode based at least in
part on the remaining power of the battery and a connection state
of the battery to the electronic edge computing device.
[0221] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0222] the electronic edge computing device comprises a casing
comprising a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape;
[0223] the operation buttons are provided at a front surface of the
casing; and
[0224] the light emitting diode is provided at a side surface of
the casing, the light emitting diode protruding from the side
surface of the casing.
[0225] The electronic edge computing device of (8), wherein
[0226] the electronic edge computing device comprises a casing
comprising a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape;
[0227] the operation buttons are provided at a front surface of the
casing; and
[0228] the light emitting diode is provided in a side surface of
the casing and the front surface of the casing, a part of the light
emitting diode exposed in the front surface.
[0229] The electronic edge computing device of (17), wherein
[0230] a diameter of the light emitting diode is equal to or
greater than a half of a thickness measured from a top surface to a
bottom surface of the casing.
[0231] A system comprising:
[0232] a wearable device comprising a display; and
[0233] an electronic edge computing device that is electrically
connected to the wearable device and supplies an image signal to
the display, wherein the wearable device comprises first operation
buttons that generates first key signals;
[0234] the electronic edge computing device comprises second
operation buttons that generates second key signals wherein a
number of the second operation buttons is greater than a number of
the first operation buttons; and
[0235] the electronic edge computing device assigns a same
operation to one of the first key signals and one of the second key
signals.
[0236] The system of (19), wherein
[0237] the wearable device comprises a glasses-type wearable
device;
[0238] the first operation buttons are provided in the side surface
of the glasses-type wearable device;
[0239] the first operation buttons generate a key signal for
selection and execution of an item and a key signal for cancelation
of operation;
[0240] the second operation buttons are provided in a front surface
of a flat rectangular parallelepiped casing of the electronic edge
computing device; and the second operation buttons generate a key
signal for selection and execution of an item and a key signal for
cancelation of operation.
[0241] A system of (20), wherein
[0242] the wearable device comprises a touchpad provided in the
side surface of the glasses-type wearable device; and
[0243] the touchpad generates a key signal for moving a cursor
upward corresponding to upward dragging, a key signal for moving
the cursor downward corresponding to downward dragging, a key
signal for successively selecting left icons corresponding to
frontward flicking, a key signal for successively selecting right
icons corresponding to backward flicking, a key signal for
selecting a left icon corresponding to frontward dragging, and a
key signal for selecting a right icon corresponding to backward
dragging, and
[0244] the second operation buttons comprise an up button, a down
button, a left button, a right button, and a center button,
wherein
[0245] the center button generates a key signal for cancelation of
operation,
[0246] the up button generates a key signal for upward movement of
cursor,
[0247] the down button generates a key signal for downward movement
of cursor,
[0248] the right button generates a key signal for selection of
right icon, and
[0249] the left button generates a key signal for selection of left
icon.
[0250] A system comprising:
[0251] a wearable device comprising a camera, a display device, a
touchpad, and first operation buttons; and
[0252] an electronic edge computing device that is wirelessly
connected to an external device, is electrically connected to the
wearable device through a cable, comprises second operation
buttons, and supplies a power voltage and image data to the
wearable device, wherein
[0253] the electronic edge computing device comprises:
[0254] a communication unit that communicates with the external
device;
[0255] a transmitter that transmits image data captured by the
camera to the external device;
[0256] a storage that stores the image data captured by the camera
and image data transmitted from the external device;
[0257] a display controller that displays an operation menu and the
image data transmitted from the external device or the image data
read from the storage on the display device, and
[0258] a processor that selects an item in the operation menu
corresponding to an operation of the first operation buttons, the
touch pad, or the second operation buttons and executes a process
corresponding to a selected item in the operation menu while the
operation menu is displayed on the display device.
[0259] The system of (22), wherein
[0260] the electronic edge computing device comprises a battery
charged with a voltage of a commercial power supply;
[0261] the electronic edge computing device is operable by the
voltage of the commercial power supply or a voltage of the battery;
and
[0262] the wearable device is inoperable when being unconnected
with the electronic edge computing device.
[0263] The system of (22), wherein
[0264] the image data transmitted from the external device
comprises instruction to a user of the wearable device.
[0265] The system of (22), wherein
[0266] the processor authenticates a user based on a fingerprint of
the user or a combination of operations of the second operation
buttons and the fingerprint of the user.
[0267] The system of (22), wherein
[0268] the wearable device is mounted on a head of a user; and
[0269] the electronic edge computing device comprises a portable
device.
[0270] A system comprising:
[0271] a wearable device comprising a camera and a display; and
[0272] an electronic edge computing device that supplies a power
supply voltage and image data to the wearable device via a cable,
wherein
[0273] the wearable device comprises a casing having a partly
curved surface and a receptacle at the partly curved surface
wherein a plug of the cable is able to be inserted into the
receptacle; and
[0274] a terminal of the receptacle is provided in a protrusion
which protrudes from part of the casing.
[0275] The processing of this embodiment can be realized by means
of a computer program, and hence it is possible to easily realize
an advantage identical to this embodiment by only installing this
computer program into a computer through a computer-readable
storage medium storing therein this computer program, and executing
this computer program.
[0276] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in
the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying
claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or
modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the
inventions.
* * * * *